[ LETTER ]

Pouring 85 Percent of Decade's Funding Into One Municipality Unwise

Published: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:59 p.m.

Polk County benefits greatly from a bed tax that fuels tourist centric magnets, which locals get to enjoy as well. The Tourist Development Council makes recommendations for the use of funds realized from that tax. Ultimately funds are released or withheld by the County Commission. That's a good thing. It's the representative process at work.

At question is whether that tax money will be distributed throughout the county or focused excessively onto a single municipality. The question is worthy of discussion.

Certainly Lakeland, as Polk's largest city, should receive special consideration and arguably the lion's share of the funding.

However, the size of that share and its ability to deprive other communities of their place at the table is a point of contention — perhaps most especially to the majority of the county's residents, who live outside Lakeland's city limits.

This year, $20 million is available through bonding. Rumor has it the TDC is willing to recommend bonding $17 million, which accounts for 85 percent of the total available funding over the next 10 years. If that same rumor can be believed, the entire sum is earmarked for Lakeland.

I stand firm that Polk should assist Lakeland in retaining the Detroit Tigers, the last Major League Baseball team in Polk for spring training.

Similarly, I see every reason to thank Lakeland for the economic power it brings the county as a whole. But to pour 85 percent of a decade's funding into a single municipality, to the exclusion of all others, does not strike me as a wise financial choice.

When I was a child, my mother often cautioned about the folly of putting all our eggs in one basket. I suspect she would not be any more comfortable about putting 85 percent of them in a single container either.

<p>Polk County benefits greatly from a bed tax that fuels tourist centric magnets, which locals get to enjoy as well. The Tourist Development Council makes recommendations for the use of funds realized from that tax. Ultimately funds are released or withheld by the County Commission. That's a good thing. It's the representative process at work.</p><p>At question is whether that tax money will be distributed throughout the county or focused excessively onto a single municipality. The question is worthy of discussion.</p><p>Certainly Lakeland, as Polk's largest city, should receive special consideration and arguably the lion's share of the funding.</p><p>However, the size of that share and its ability to deprive other communities of their place at the table is a point of contention — perhaps most especially to the majority of the county's residents, who live outside Lakeland's city limits.</p><p>This year, $20 million is available through bonding. Rumor has it the TDC is willing to recommend bonding $17 million, which accounts for 85 percent of the total available funding over the next 10 years. If that same rumor can be believed, the entire sum is earmarked for Lakeland.</p><p>I stand firm that Polk should assist Lakeland in retaining the Detroit Tigers, the last Major League Baseball team in Polk for spring training.</p><p>Similarly, I see every reason to thank Lakeland for the economic power it brings the county as a whole. But to pour 85 percent of a decade's funding into a single municipality, to the exclusion of all others, does not strike me as a wise financial choice.</p><p>When I was a child, my mother often cautioned about the folly of putting all our eggs in one basket. I suspect she would not be any more comfortable about putting 85 percent of them in a single container either.</p><p>JAMIE BECKETT</p><p>Winter Haven</p>